speaking out the text her husband missed before the tragedy struck >> i message her back every day. >> and what her parents sa will be her legacy now. caught on door bell cam, a woma coming home, a man running up from behind and brutally attacking her and dragging her to a car the break in that case tonight. some of the top ranked diets as the new year's resolutions kick the diet wars into high gear. >> announcer: this is "nbc nightly news" with lester holt good evening hundreds of american troops are at the ready tonight, rushed to the mideast t defend the american embassy in baghdad against more fiery assaults by pro-iranian mobs a show of force and what erupted this week into a dangerous flashpoint between the u.s. and iran, which the trump administration says stoked the attack. and now the pentagon warning it coumptild tak actiot >> reporter: lata drone strike

baghdad airport has killed a top iranian military leader. the head of a let quds force, an iconic military commander of iran's military forces in iraq, syria, lebanon and throughout the middle east. in the past, the u.s. also credited his militias with combatting an american enemy, isis in iraq. his quds forces and divisions of iraq's revolutionary guard widely believed to support a wide number of iranian-backed terror groups such as hezbollah. his death, if confirmed, would increase tensions between the u.s. and iran already heightened by the new year's attacks on the american embassy in baghdad following two days of rioting, iran-backed militias finally pulling up stakes and retreating after torch ing a receptio area inside the embassy's perimeter. tell g us the group could be planning more attacks. iranian-sponsored

militants come back? >> enough is enough. this is part of iran's malign behavior that they've been spreading across the region from africa all the way through the middle east into afghanistan now, for 40 years. and it's this type of bad behavior that simply needs to end. >> reporter: esper also saying the u.s. may strike preemptively if u.s. lives are threatened but attacks inside iraq, where iran has huge influence, can backfire u.s. officials believe iraq let the militants get close to the embassy, angered by american air strikes inside iraq last weekend against iranian-backed militias tonight, neither u.s. officials nor iran would comment. but iran's state tv carried the iraqi television reports of his death. nbc's tehran bureau chief says that would not happen if they did not believe it to be true experts say serious reprisals can be expected, dramatically increasing the crisis be atwn iran, lesterthe region, if nee? >> those troops that went to kuwait are paf 0 troops and

always at the ready in case of further attacks. the baghdad crisis is >> andrea, thank you for the first time of man ening the that horrifying stabbing attack during hanukkah is speaking out to the public. this comes in a wave of anti-semitic attacks in the region. gabe gutierrez has more we have to warn you, one of the images you're about to see is disturbing >> reporter: joséf newman spent his birthday in the hospital after a stabbing in muncy, new york. tonight, his family wants you to see this photo to show how severe the attack was. his daughter says he may not wake up from his coma >> i'm begging you, if you are watching this, please stand up and stop this hatred it cannot keep going on >> reporter: the accused attacker, 37-year-old grafton thomas, has pleaded not guilty to state charges of attempted murder and burglary. his attorney says thomas has a history of mental illness and thes medications in his apartment. >> there's been no history of anti-semitism with this man that anybody knows of, no history of violence with this man.

>> reporter: but investigators are also looking into whether thomas may be connected to the unsolved november stabbing of a jewish man walking to a synagogue. >> i have no evidence at all at this time to indicate that. none still a very active investigation. with a number of leads being pursued. >> reporter: the jewish community here is shaken. >> it's possible the person has mental, medical conditions but he is certainly normal enough to be obsessed with jews and then execute a planned attack >> reporter: the stabbing is just one of about a dozen recent hate-fueled incidents authorities are investigating in and around new york. in jewish neighborhoods, there is now stepped-up security >> wherever i walk, i walk with pepper spray. i'm afraid >> reporter: the suspect in the stabbing attack is due in court here tomorrow has not yet enteredr. >> gabe gutierrez, thank you. dead wildfire pthis evening, th catastrophe in australia where tens of thousands of people

were evacuated from their home. the situation could get even worse janis mackey frayer is in the fire zone tonight. >> reporter: tonight authorities in australia declaring a state of emergency, with wildfires ravaging the southeastern coast forcing mass evacuation. entire towns and tourists with only hours to get out firefighters, many of them volunteers, trying to fight back the flames we made it to a town where firefighters are overwhelmed. >> we're not looking forward to tomorrow. that's all i can say >> reporter: why is that >> it gets scary sometimes. >> reporter: thousands can't leave, trapped on beaches, waiting to escape the to help communities that are utterly destroyed. >> the block we're on has been burned from one side to the other. there's not a blade of grass in it. >> reporter: at least 17 people have been killed at a firefighter's funeral today, a young

boy accepting a medal millions of acres have burned here. countless animals affected too koalas desperate for water. kangaroos on the run while from the air and on the ground, it's a race to contain the flames the threat level is high because conditions are just so dry here authorities say if they need to, they will force people to get out. lester >> anxious hours there, janis, thank you. here at home, the trump administration announced a ban on flavored e-cigarettes to stem the explosion in teen vaping but there are significant exceptions and health advocates accuse the administration of caving in to the vapingndello >> reporter: tonight, a partial victory fo those trying to stem vaping a ban on flavored cartridges, including mint, most popular with teens the only exceptions,

tobacco and menthol flavors and flavored liquids in vam shops sold to adults to mix their own flavors. >> the data makes clear that kids use tobacco flavor and menthol flavored cartridges much less frequently than those other products >> reporter: nationwide, 5 million middle and high schoolers admit to vaping 1 millio say they vape every day. while congress just raised the e-cig and tobacco age to 21, today's ban falls short of the near total ban the president promised in september. >> we can't allow people to get sick and we can't have our youth be so affected >> reporter: that pledge angered the vaping industry and led adult vapors to warn the president could lose votes this wee mr. trump backed off >> we're going to protect our children and we're going to protect the industry >> reporter: today addiction specialist warned teenagers will simply switch to the flavored e-cigs still allowed. >> i would have preferred to see all flavors banned i don't like to leave

a any gateways opened. >> reporter: today's ban will not affect the liquid flavors for thc, the active ingredient in marijuana that researchers believe may be connected to the exploding number of illnesses and deaths, lester >> tom, thank you. for president trump the start of the year will be largely consumed by the impeachment process as democrats and republicans try to end their stalemate over the senate trial to come as hallie jackson reports, new documents are fueling democrats' demands. >> reporter: democrats tonight are seizing on newly unredacted documents about what's at the heart of the president's impeachment. that freeze on military aid to ukraine. emails viewed by nyu law school blog "just security" show tensions between a pentagon staffer and the office of management and budget over the freeze. the documents, according to the report contain an email from a top omb official ultimately citing the president, saying there was a clear direction from him to continue the hold. while nbc news has not been able to verify the emails, the administration is not ty a an

omb spokesperson tells us the key players were on the same page about the aid freeze but senator chuck schumer is today arguing the new evidence justifies why senators should hear from top trump administration officials in a senate impeachment trial. it's not clear if that will happen. then again, nothing is clear about what a trial would look like or when it would begin, with both sides stuck in a stalemate over the process democrats want witnesses to testify republicans want to wait to decide on that until after the trial starts >> i am open to witnesses. i think it's premature to decide who should be called until we see the evidence that is presented. >> reporter: the impeachment trial start date probably won't get set until at least next week when lawmakers and the president get back to washington, lester >> all right, hallie in washington a lot of moving pieces as the impeachment drama plays out there. democrats are just 32 days away from the iowa caucuses. with fundraising critical, there are some new numbers we're

watching closely tonight about the money race geoff bennett has more on that. [ cheering ] >> reporter: we're now officially in a presidential election year and the candidates are in a dash for cash tonight, many of the campaigns releasing new fundraising numbers. senator bernie sanders smashing through his own fundraising record his campaign announcing it hauled in more than $34.5 million for the fourth quarter of last year sanders riding a wave of small grassroots donations, consistently outraising his democratic competitors. his total is $10 million more than the roughly $25 million that former mayor pete buttigieg raised with former vp joe biden's campaign posting what it calls its strongest fundraising quarter to date, $22.7 million in the bank >> thank you for putting yourself on the line, vouching for me, vouching for the family >> reporter: and entrepreneur andrew yang raking in a personal best, $16.5 million. but president trump beats each of the democratic contenders

in the fundraising frenzy, raising $46 million over the same period, even as hebaled impeac. and just weeks before primary voting begins,s.o democratic voters, catch on with lester >> geoff bennett, thank you. now to a story that hits close to home for us. the husband and parents of carley mccord, the sports reporter for nbc affiliate wdsu killed in a plane crash on her way to the peach bowl, are speaking out to our sam brock about their unimaginable loss and carley's legacy >> reporter: the connection between carley mccord and steven ensminger jr. was instantaneous. it took steven just a few months to propose. >> i'm going to cry, oh, my gosh. >> words can't describe the kind of person she is. >> reporter: a lifetime of love for family, community, and sports, suddenly upended last week when a private plane carley caught a ride on crashed shortly after takeoff, killing five people on board, with

one survivor critically injured that morning, steven says he missed a text from carley telling him one last time she loved him. >> did you message her back after that, knowing everything that had happened? >> yeah. i message her back every day. >> reporting from the saints practice facility -- >> reporter: a sports reporter for espn and nbc affiliate wdsu, carley was on the way to the lsu/oklahoma bowl gam in atlanta >> she was a shining light that made you shine when she was in the room >> she loved everyone. love poured out. >> reporter: carley's parents, tracy and karen, say their daughter left an indelible mark in her 30 years, advocating for women in sports, even teaching 4:00 a.m. english lessons for children in china >> she wasn't finished the sky was the limit. >> reporter: carley's legacy now being honored with a new

scholarship in her name for aspiring female broadcasters. >> what's the one thing you want people to remember when they think of carley mccord >> her heart she loved fiercely she had the biggest heart i've ever seen just everything everything about her >> reporter: sam brock, nbc news, baton rouge. >> just a heartbreaking tribute. there is severe weather we're contending with that we're watching, especially in the south. al roker is here al, what are we looking at >> lester, already seeing flash flood watches. >> and warnings for 9 million people heavy rain we're already seeing rainfall rat up to 2 inches per hour with this system. tomorrow it makes its way from the southeast into the northeast mid-atlantic states as well saturday, heavy rain the back side of this, snow will develop. by sunday it moves out and away or delays, os >> see you then, al, thanks today is the busiest day for "today."new n returns across america.en h time-saving ways to make returns in tonight's "price you pay. >> reporter: maybe

they meant well with those gifts. but let's face it, the race to return is on ups alone estimates it handled nearly 2 million returns just today, up 26% over last year, thanks in part to the rise in e-commerce >> we're starting to see all of these new ideas, concepts, and even businesses for returns popping up >> reporter: happy return is one of those services, you bring your item to a counter, no postage, no box required, and they promise to get you in and out less than a minute. happy returns 70 location in stores and malls, accepting returns from these retailers. at this paper source customers also get a $5 coupon, for, you guessed it, more shopping >> is that a way for the stores to get new customers? >> absolutely. >> reporter: kohl's and ups stores have a similar concept for eligible amazon returns. no packaging and fre shipping shipping. if guilty get your return in today,

many retailers including best buy and macy's have extended return windows even if you're a day or two late -- >> a kind ask, a soft smile, on the phone or in person, go a really long way >> reporter: vicky nguyen, nbc news, new york we're back with more right after this. the new year and one that might make you less healthy. manage cash flow, and run payroll. and now i'm back on top... with koala kai. more mercy. the easy way to a happier business. take dayquil severe with vicks vapocool.d, (acapella) whoa! (vo) and vaporize it with an intense rush of vicks vapors. (acapella) ahhhhhhhhhhh! (vo) dayquil severe with vicks vapocool. the daytime coughing, stuffy head, vaporize your cold, medicine.

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we're back now with a violent crime captured on a doorbell camera and how it helped police track down the suspect who allegedly attacked and kidnapped a woman. we get more from miguel almaguer. a warning, the video is disturbing. >> reporter: las vegas police released a graphic doorbell video, hoping to capture the susp, o was ran for help after pounding on a stranger's door. tonight, just hours after police released the disturbing video, officers arrested now recovering >> reporter: with doorbell cameras more prevalent than ever, they are now being widely used by detectives to help solve crimes outside los angeles, police arrested robert mendez after they say a front porch security camera captured him assaulting his ex-girlfriend. [ screaming

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in this new year our stephanie gosk has some top-ranked diets that could help. >> reporter: the season of joy and excess is over time now for that other beloved annual tradition -- shopping for the right diet the guy next door lost 20 on keto the work colleague swears by south beach. but which one is actually good for you? "u.s. news and world report" ranked 35 of the most popular diets, looking at weight loss and health, consulting experts and medical journals topping the list of best overall was the mediterranean diet fruits, vegetables, olive oil, no gimmicks and even the occasional bowl of spaghetti.

tying for number two, with the flexatarian diet the d.a.s.h., developed for fighting high blood pressure, praised for its nutritional pressure. completeness, according to the article. way down on the list keto think bacon, eggs, and steaks weight comes off but it is not great for less healthy number one if you have diabetes or other health conditions, talk to your doctor first dietre goingth >> is there one key thing to help make a diet stick >> the main thing to help make a diet stick is something that you'll be able to do day after day, week after week, month after month. >> reporter: in other words, that occasional bowl of spaghetti may just be your key to success. stephanie gosk, nbc news, new york how to kick 2020 off right, when we come back. because there are options. like an "unjection™". xeljanz xr, a once-daily pill for adults with moderate

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finally, as we move forward into this new year, harry smith has the most popular resolutions for 2020 and even one of his own. >> reporter: it's a new year time to wipe the errors and follies of the year past off the calendar and time to dream anew about how much better our lives will be in 2020. for the tipler, the social drinker, the wine after kids go to bed ritual keeper, there is dry january a month alcohol-free those who have done it praise its benefits. our airwaves are crowded with ads for weight loss programs and losing weight should be, for me and most of the rest of america, a high priority as we gain weight, we lose health. it's not a good trade-off. your reporter is actually participating in a yoga challenge. one day down and 30 to go namaste, y'all and because the new year is 2020, perhaps we should see clear to treat one another

better hold a few doors open. say good morning talk less. listen more. plato said this: "be kind for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle.esolions go, that's a keeper. harry smith, nbc news. >> a little kindness goes a long way. that's "nightly news." i'm lester holt. i'll see you tomorrow morning on "today" and then back here ♪ can't keep my hands to myself ♪ ♪ think i'll dust 'em off, put 'em back up on the shelf ♪

♪ in case my little baby girl is in need ♪ ♪ am i coming out of left field? ♪ ♪ ooh woo, i'm a rebel just for kicks, now ♪ ♪ i been feeling it since 1966, now ♪ ♪ might be over now, but i feel it still ♪ ♪ ooh woo, i'm a rebel just for kicks, now ♪ ♪ let me kick it like it's 1986, now ♪ ♪ might be over now, but i feel it still ♪ ♪ goodbye to my hopes and dreams ♪ ♪ stop flipping for my enemies ♪ we could wait until the walls come down ♪ ♪ it's time to give a little to the ♪ ♪ kids in the middle, but oh 'til it falls ♪ ♪ won't bother me ♪ ooh woo, i'm a rebel just for kicks, yeah ♪

♪ i've been feeling it since 1966, now ♪ ♪ might be over now, but i feel it still ♪ ♪ ooh woo, i'm a rebel just for kicks, now ♪ ♪ let me kick it like it's 1986, now ♪ ♪ might be over now, but i feel it still ♪ ♪ might've had your fill, but you feel it still ♪ [cheers and applause] >> kelly: hi, y'all, welcome to "the kelly clarkson show"! all right, who requested "feel it still," where's monica at? hi, monica, why did you pick that song? >> hi, kelly. the reason i picked this on this because the sound came out when i graduated college and i was honestly like the biggest rebel phase of my entire life. i had just come back from studying abroad in australia where i was on a high from traveling, getting tattoos, dying my hair, going bungee

jumping. >> kelly: i want